The Arsenal Injury Room Full Once Again Ahead of Chelsea Clash

during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal at The Hawthorns on December 31, 2017 in West Bromwich, England.

Openly criticised for a deplorable medical team for much of the last decade, Arsenal have reinvested and things seemed to have been getting better. The days of fans protesting to have the entire medical team sacked seemed to have dissipated after the club built a new modernised facility and hired some key staff.

But here we go again.

Just as the club are in the midst of a dogfight with Tottenham, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United for three coveted Champions League spots, the Arsenal injury room is filled once more. And the timing really couldn’t be worse ahead of a mid-week clash with Chelsea as the club will be short-staffed for the pivotal match.

The club has seven players, all who get a fair bit of playing time and are crucial to success, currently receiving treatment.

Aaron Ramsey

Hamstring injury v Southampton

Marred by injuries throughout his career, Ramsey picked up another in a match in early December against Southampton. Originally considered mild, he has been out of action for three weeks and will not make the Chelsea game.

Olivier Giroud

Hamstring injury v West Ham

The injury to Giroud was thought to be a more serious one than the one suffered by Ramsey. Giroud has missed two weeks and it’s doubtful that he will return in January. Rumours have circulated since the summer as to his potential departure. How this injury affects that potential move remains to be seen.

Sead Kolasinac

Ankle injury v West Brom

Kolasinac, a tank for all intents and purposes, picked up a minor injury last weekend. He will only miss two weeks, but they happen to be season-defining weeks potentially. He will not be available against Chelsea.

Laurent Koscielny

Hip injury v West Brom

There is a chance the Frenchman could be available for Chelsea on Wednesday. A chance. Koscielny has slowly declined in form over the past two seasons. Once a stalwart in Arsenal’s defence, his fitness is catching up to him. It is widely known that he suffers from a chronic Achilles’ problem that requires daily treatment. He has been incredible for the club, to be certain.

Mesut Özil

Knee

Alex Iwobi filled in for the German, but clearly not all that well. The knee injury is not expected to be a serious one, but if it sidelines him for the Chelsea match than the severity can’t come down to time away alone. He will be crucial to have in the side against The Blues, but as of now Özil‘s return is questionable at best.

Nacho Monreal

Ankle v Liverpool

Nacho Monreal, who has mostly been a first team selection over the past years, will be out of action until mid-January. Offering versatility, Monreal could have been an important piece with three games from Wednesday this week until Wendesday next. Able to play in his left back role in a back-four, as a wingback in a back-three, or even as a central defender if called upon, his versatility will leave Wenger short at one point or another.

Santi Cazorla

Achilles

In one of the saddest injury cases in recent memory, the club has missed Santi immensely. There is no definitive timetable for his return, and it is rumoured now that he’s played his last minutes in an Arsenal shirt.